Chapter Sixteen

They had all hoped for the rain to stop but had finally embraced the idea that they wouldn't see Oregon on a sunny day. Perhaps it was better this way. It matched their stay, after all. They had got accustomed to it as well. The rain had just turned into an odd symbol of some sort.

"I'm looking forward to seeing my family again... And resume my morning runs in Morningside Park!" Emily grabbed the salad bowl and winked at Maura. "I'm going to assume you're looking forward to seeing Jane again."

Maura smiled. Of course she was. As a matter of fact, she had been thinking about nothing but it these past few days. There she was, at last.

Her imminent return to Boston had become a tad obsessional. She had managed to handle it, to handle the withdrawal of Jane's lips on her skin; her kisses. Her presence. Within twenty-four hours now, she would be back to Beacon Hill and everything would be perfect; just like in her dreams.

Hopefully.

Her latent anxiety was palpable but comprehensible too. It wouldn't be the same once back home after all. She had left Massachusetts in a very different context. She hadn't said it to anyone but she had the feeling that her life was actually about to start; that everything she had to experience was waiting for her on the other side of the country. With Jane.

Would Jane move in with her? How would they behave in public? In front of their friends and colleagues? Would they ever talk about taking some more serious decisions, like a wedding?

An endless series of questions was twirling in her head and made her feel a tad dizzy. But she was fine with it. She was convinced that every single piece of the puzzle would find its place in the most natural way ever, just like the kiss Jane had given her at Logan International a month earlier.

Existence belonged to an untouchable logic.

"I'm sure she's looking forward to finally meeting the infamous Liv Mayer in the flesh."

Bottle of wine in hand – the very last one – William stuck his tongue at Maura in a childish way. It was their last dinner together. The moment seemed to melt into a bitter excitement, something paradoxical. They would all miss each other yet couldn't wait to be home.

"As a matter of fact, I've already had the occasion to speak to her. In private."

And everything had gone smoothly. A rather serious case had landed at the morgue in Boston. The psychologist had been requested to help. Seeing the importance of the moment, the senator had asked Maura to coordinate the whole thing and she had had to spend a long moment on Skype with Liv. Now she understood why Jane liked her. Liv Mayer was nice – smart – and rather cheerful. She was a good addition to the BPD, Maura was certain of it.

Maura trusted Jane. It was now obvious that Liv was not interested in her and that there was nothing to fear yet Maura still had to work on her insecurities one way or another. Her relationship with Jane would certainly bring her the peace she desperately needed.

"Did you virtually bitch slap her?"

Maura sat at the dinner table and shook her head at her colleague. She would miss these evenings in the old house. She would miss the sound of the rain against the windows and the crackling of the logs in the fireplace. The smell.

A whole month had passed by and Depoe Bay held now a special place in her heart.

She rolled her eyes at William then planted an unexpected kiss on his cheek. A bright smile played on her lips, lighting up her graceful features.

"Get over your fantasies, Montgomery. There won't be any catfight at the BPD."

...

She had seen a whale. In the morning, Maura had sent a text message to Jane to let her know that she had finally seen a whale. In the distance, through the usual curtain of rain.

A shuttle was about to drive them to the airport when she had looked up to observe the Pacific ocean for a very last time from the front porch of the house. Then she had seen it. At last.

The story had made Jane smile. It carried a delicate innocence that echoed the beats of her heart whenever she thought about Maura.

Maura.

Impatient, Jane sped up the pace of her steps. She still had some time though. Maura's flight hadn't landed yet. She just wanted to be there already, waiting by the arrivals. She had barely slept. Her excitement had stolen her dreams and she couldn't wait to take Maura in her arms the second she would see her walk outside the terminal.

She had taken two days off. There was no way she would go to work without enjoying a few hours alone with Maura first. She needed it. It didn't have to lead to anything particularly intimate. Her fantasy was bare, sweet: she simply wanted to stay in Maura's arms without saying a single word, without moving an inch.

It didn't make her blush. Something had happened within herself since she had come back from Oregon. She was ready to assume her relationship, the desires and dreams she had about it. She didn't want to hide. It was all about embracing it fully. Proudly.

For someone who had never felt comfortable with her feelings, the change was quite drastic.

Ten minutes. Jane checked the screen one more time and barely held back a scream of excitement. Maura's flight was now landing. The place was crowded. There was even a television crew ready to film something. If Jane had wanted to be cheesy then she would have said that it reminded her of the very last scene of Love Actually but Jane Rizzoli wasn't about to start talking about romantic comedies. Or at least certainly not openly.

Something caught her attention on her left, a detail that made her suddenly doubt. A man was holding a bouquet of flowers, tulips. She had arrived to the airport three hours earlier but hadn't thought about buying anything for Maura. She had drunk her excitement away in high doses of caffeine instead then had paced until the arrivals gates.

Yet Maura loved flowers.

Jane flinched. The flight had now landed. It was too late for her to go buy some and come back on time. The nearest shops were quite far.

Besides, she had managed to find a good spot among the crowd: Maura wouldn't have any problem to find her there.

She had screwed it though. A veil of disappointment wrapped up her mind. During all that time, she had thought about nothing but her very own pleasure when she should have realized that buying Maura something was pure evidence. Of course Maura wouldn't make any remark but Jane was really not proud of herself.

Unless a bouquet of flowers was a bit too cliché?

She bit her lips as a wave of doubts spread in her veins. She needed to relax, to accept to abandon herself and go with the flow. Then everything would be easier, so much easier.

The gates began to open. She subconciously held back her breath. Her heart was pounding loud in her chest. Her hands were moist. Her eyes started a ballet of some sort as travelers walked towards her and the large group of people waiting by the gates.

It was over. The wait – the loneliness of the past few weeks – was about to vanish forever. Jane was somewhat proud. She had been able to handle it, in her own way. The distance had actually strengthened her feelings, her determination to make it work. It couldn't fail. They couldn't fail. She wouldn't let it happen.

Lost in her thoughts, she almost missed Maura. An alarm got set off in her head as her subconscious spotted her a few feet ahead. Unable to wait any longer, Jane walked over the line – shamefully showed her police badge to a member of the airport security – then rushed to Maura. Her move had been completely spontaneous, driven by a powerful urge she couldn't control.

"Maura!"

Jane's voice rose loudly in the terminal but – way too focused on her partner – she didn't realize that her outburst had caused a few travelers to turn around to observe the scene. The contrast with their last encounter at Logan International couldn't be any sharper. To the delicate incomprehension had substituted a blatant desire. A loud one.

There was no hesitation anymore, even less confusion.

Within three steps Jane reached Maura. She didn't even take her in her arms. Instead – just like the last time – she let her hand slide on her partner's neck to pull her closer to her body then captured her lips in a urging kiss.

Maura's bag loudly landed on the floor as she let go of it to pass her arms around Jane's neck. A shaking smile began to play on her lips before it melting in the kiss. She had never been into such display of affection before but everything was different, this time. It was a need, a vital one. A powerful feeling that seemed to control her whole body; and the beats of her heart, her mind.

Breathless and full of an exhilaration she could hardly describe, Jane finally broke the kiss but kept Maura close against her body. She swallowed hard then plunged her eyes in her partner's hazel ones.

This was it. Finally.

The words rose from her lower stomach. She felt them rush through her veins – wrap up her heart – before following their sincere journey until her lips. It had never felt so right. Jane smiled, echoing the happiness in Maura's eyes.

"I love you."

Maura didn't need to reply. The emotion that showed on her face turned out to be enough for Jane to understand that she was feeling exactly the same. Not really eager to stay at the airport, they grabbed back Maura's bags and – hand in hand – started walking towards the doors.

The sun was shining outside. It was a perfect day for a new start.

The End

Author's note: Thank you very much for all the reviews and messages that you have sent me all along this story. I leave tomorrow for three weeks (vacation time) so I don't know yet if I will be able to post a new story and update it on a daily basis. If I realize I have enough time for it then you will get a new one quite soon. If not then I should start posting a new one around September, 26th.